Slumgullion #73

Photo from the Model Music website.

Lollapalooza has returned to the windy city, and for those who can’t physically be there, WXRT will be focusing on the festivities all weekend. The Chicago alt rock radio station promises live reports from air personality Marty Lennartz, and all kinds of exclusive backstage features. Throughout the weekend, other disc jockeys will offer their reflections on attending Lollapalooza over the past 20 years. Tomorrow morning, the always entertaining weekly show Saturday Morning Flashback and its host Wendy Rice travel back to 1991, the year of Lollapalooza’s birth. People out of the Chicago area can listen to WXRT through the station’s website.

Lollapalooza and The Fest For Beatles Fans often fall on the same weekend in Chicago, prompting some people to dub the latter as a Baby Boomer alternative to the hip kids frolicking in Grant Park. But any celebration of John, Paul, George, and Ringo draws a multi-generational audience, and The Fest For Beatles Fans is no exception. It kicks off today at 5:00 PM and runs through midnight on Sunday. WXRT air personality Terri Hemmert, who hosts the weekly Breakfast With The Beatles show in addition to her daily mid-morning time slot, is once again serving as The Fest’s Master Of Ceremonies. She’s also a gifted interviewer, combining the enthusiasm of a true fan with the knowledge of a professional.

The affable humorist/writer Martin Lewis will also be on hand, hopefully conducting one of his musicians’ forums, and spinning tales from his work with various celebrities. This year’s guests, some of whom Hemmert or Lewis will be chatting with, include Peter Asher of Peter & Gordon, Joey Molland of Badfinger, former Wings guitarist Henry McCullough, and musician/producer Mark Hudson. Liverpool, a Beatles tribute band that doesn’t try to look like the original musicians, but does a bang-up job of playing their songs, will perform in concert Saturday and Sunday nights. See the Fest For Beatles Fans site for a full list of the activities that will be going on throughout the weekend.

The Palatine Park District wraps up its Sounds Of Summer 2011 series tonight with Jimmy Sohns’ Rock N Roll Side Show at 8:00 PM at the Fred P. Hall Amphitheater. Sohns was the lead vocalist for Shadows Of Knight, the Chicago-based 1960s band that’s still revered in garage rock circles for its gritty take on “Gloria.” He’ll be joined tonight by Shadows Of Knight guitarist Mike Gotshall and vocalist-keyboards player Cindy Gotshall. The Palatine Park District is distributing surveys about which bands residents would like to see next summer. I wrote down several musical acts, as well as the suggestion that the Sounds Of Summer series extend beyond the first week of August.

Those of us who prefer the more energetic side of The Bangles will definitely get a kick out of their cover of “Open My Eyes” the garage rock classic originally done by Todd Rundgren’s Nazz. A sample of “Open My Eyes,” along with five other songs, can be heard on the Model Music Group website. An article accompanying the tracks describes the Debbi Peterson penned “Ball N Chain,” which is not yet available for preview, as a “high-revving agro kiss-off.” The Bangles’ new CD, Sweetheart Of The Sun, is scheduled for release on September 13th.

A few weeks back, I mentioned Hugh Hart’s House Of Imaginary Hits project, where he works with graphic designer Sean Hartter to create real songs for nonexistent bands and albums. Recently, the musician/journalist added to his collection with “They Just Keep Coming On (Bullshit Shuffle),” a political satire about the ongoing struggles in Washington, D.C. to agree on a budget. Written by Hart and featuring guitarist John Rice, the song has an amiable, Neil Young Harvest era arrangement and clever but biting wordplay like, “Kids are starving while they bitch and bargain gutting my future on a whim” and “Highways crumble while they act all humble, stuffing their pockets on the sly.” This newest track from Hart features Jim Lo Scalzo’s black and white photo of bureaucrats coming and going.

The Hollywood Walk Of Fame in Los Angeles goes New Wave on August 11th when The Go-Go’s get a well-deserved star to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the release of their still vibrant debut, Beauty & The Beat. The honor comes just under a week before the band plays a major gig at the Greek Theater.

Following in the footsteps of Celtic acts like The Chieftans and James Galway, the all woman band Cherish The Ladies explore the connections between traditional Irish music and American bluegrass on their latest CD, Country Crossroads - The Nashville Sessions.

The new disc comes as the group, which has had an ever-changing lineup over the years, marks its 25 anniversary. Deidre Connolly, who sang lead on Cherish The Ladies 2001 release The Girls Won’t Leave The Boys Alone and has toured with them recently, is on hand for this latest effort, along with former members Eileen Ivers, Liz Carroll, Maura O’Connell, and Liz Knowles. Other guests include Country & Western stars Vince Gill and Nanci Griffith, along with a number of well-known session musicians.

In other CTL news, Joanie Madden, the band’s very funny and talented founding member, recently received The Ellis Island Medal Of Honor Award for her many contributions to Irish music and dance.

Slumgullion #35

It's been a long time, been a long time, been a lonely, lonely, - - - but I finally have another Slumgullion ready.

Those of us who enjoy Mary E. Donnelly’s contributions to the cool PowerPop blog run by Steve Simels are looking forward to Boys Don’t Lie, the book she’s written about the band Shoes. Due to be published from Pure Pop Press next Spring, the book covers this essential group’s entire history, including the Elektra LPs that should have become best sellers.

Legendary Rock Stars, which includes former Material Issue bassist Ted Ansani, will be performing at the Bad Monkey Bar & Grill in Algonquin at 10PM tonight. Next weekend, Ansani’s cover band, Diving for Dynamite, will play an all ages show at 7PM at Bogie’s Ale House as part of Mount Prospect’s Octoberfest. There is no cover charge.

Terri Hemmert’s recent two-part Breakfast With The Beatles tribute to John Lennon on the occasion of what would have been his 70th birthday was yet another example of why she remains one of Chicago’s favorite radio personalities. Hemmert, who has been on WXRT since the 1970s, was recently inducted into The National Radio Hall Of Fame. An official ceremony, including cocktails and dinner will take place on November 6th at the WTTW Studios at 5400 N. St. Louis Avenue in Chicago. There will be a live broadcast of the ceremony starting at 9:00PM. For information, check out the Radio Hall Of Fame website.

Last Rites will present its third annual two-day Halloween Fest at The Abbey on the weekend of October 29th/30th. Once again, a number of local artists will be paying tribute to well-known performers. Those of us who caught the Fest last year know it’s a blast, and this year’s lineup definitely looks promising. On the 29th, Tomorrow The Moon will explore its dark side as Pink Floyd; Penthouse Sweets will kover The Kinks; Ellis Clark and Epicycle will become The Beatles; Who’s This Mary will appear as The Cure, Canasta covers Elton John, and Sentinels will kick out the jams as MC5. The equally enticing 30th bill features ZZ Listening as ZZ Top; Phil Angotti as Buddy Holly; The Webstirs as The Beach Boys; The Delafields as New Order; Curtis Evans as Nirvana; and Androstache as The Pretenders.

Roxy Swain, a co-ed band that evokes The Bangles and Continental Drifters on its recently released impressive full-length debut The Spell Of Youth, has an upcoming gig at Martyr’s on Lincoln Avenue on October 28th.

Singer-guitarist Jimmy Herter, who’s one of several reasons The New Invaders are one of the area’s better 1960s tribute bands, has a solo gig at the Prime Time Restaurant and Bar at 7750 W. 95th Street in Hickory Hills tonight. The show starts at 9:30. Yell out some Hollies requests and tell him Broken Hearted Toy sent you.

It’s Beginning To Rock A Lot Like Christmas as Kool Kat Musik unwraps its A Kool Kat Kristmas compilation. The CD features Maple Mars, The Britannicas, Paralax Project, Jellybricks, Frank Royster, and other acts.

Slumgullion # 30

At least two people like this album.

Long Live Garage Rock. I’m having a Rock & Roll Garage Sale this weekend, specifically timed to align with the Downtown Palatine Street Fest, which is taking place about a block away from my house. I’m selling CDs, vinyl, publications, and cassettes. I placed an ad in the local paper, listed my event on CraigsList, and posted signs around the neighborhood. Business was sporadic today, but I made enough to cover the ad, with a little left over. Whatever I make tomorrow will add to my profit margin.

After hustling to get all my merchandise outside for the 8AM grand opening, I sat alone for over an hour before anyone stopped by. Having the sale felt a bit like entertaining guests, as I talked with people about various bands, past work experiences, and various other topics. One young woman asked if I had any Grateful Dead or Pink Floyd stuff. I said I had Pink Floyd stuff inside, but it wasn’t for sale. She explained that she needed to find two more albums and then she would have everything Pink Floyd put out on vinyl. When I mentioned I had a friend who was the biggest Pink Floyd fan in the world, she just laughed and said, “Wanna bet?” Hopefully, there will be more conversations and sales tomorrow. So far, the Street Fest doesn’t seem to be helping sales, though.

Hollus Happenings. Hollus might be rocking out at the Martyrs’ club as you’re reading this. The Chicago-based band is part of a four-act Booze Rock showcase tonight that also includes The Dirty Rooks, The Delta Routine, and Thunderbird Kingsley. The music starts at 9PM. Hollus will be following up on its impressive Joker And The Queen CD by releasing a pair of EPs. Part One drops in November, with a TBA release show planned for late October.

Can’t Stop The World. After selling out the first installment of her first Lady Robitika comic book, Jane Wieldlin now has a second one on the way, titled, Of G Strings and Galaxies. Her Facebook page says it should be available at your local comic store.

They Say It’s His Birthday. Black Forest will be hosting a tribute to John Lennon to celebrate what would have been his 70th birthday, and is seeking performers to play his music. The songs can be from Lennon’s solo repertoire, or his earlier work with The Beatles. The show will be held from 8:00 to 10:30PM on October 9th at the Black Forest space at 512 Kedzie in Evanston. Contact James Moeller at jamesblackforest@yahoo.com for information.

Beatles By The Books. The Niles Public Library has an entire month of Beatles related fun on tap, including screenings of Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band on September 18th, and A Hard Day’s Night on September 21st. There will be a Beatles Rock Band Tournament on September 19th, and on September 22nd, photographer Jorie Gracen will discuss her experiences with Paul McCartney. Walter Podrazik, who was recently on hand at the Fest For Beatles Fans in Rosemont, will host a Beatles Trivia Challenge on September 26th, and The Threetles, a trio comprised of musicians Eric Howell, Michael Mahler, and Frank Canino, will celebrate John Lennon’s birthday on October 9th with a live performance. WXRT DJ Terri Hemmert will serve as MC for an Invitation Only Beatles Art Show and Closing Ceremony on October 15th. All of the artists who submit displayed artwork will be eligible to attend, and there will also be a drawing for anyone who comes to the library to vote for a special People’s Choice award.

For The Benefit Of Mr H.

Beatles photo from Official Beatles website.

Beatles fans in the Chicago area have a variety of opportunities to come together, whether it’s a monthly meeting at a coffee house in Schaumburg or at the annual Fest For Beatles Fans at the Hyatt Regency in Rosemont. Another reason for gathering is to honor a fellow fan who was taken away but left behind warm feelings and memories. Such is the case with the Beatles Celebration taking place on July 31st at The Old Town School of Folk Music. Held every other year, it’s a benefit for the Brendan Hedges Scholarship Fund. The fund provides free music lessons to aspiring musicians who don’t have the money to pay for them. Hedges was a young musician who had made a lot of friends before being murdered in 1996.

One of those friends is WXRT radio personality Terri Hemmert, who first met Hedges when he was a teenager performing as part of the Battle of the Beatles Bands competition at the Fest For Beatles Fans. Hemmert’s been on vacation this week, but she’ll host the Beatles Celebration on Saturday night. She posted a touching blog on her station’s website a while back, detailing her feelings for Hedges. The blog also has a few video clips of performances from past Brendan Hedges fundraisers, like the multi-member Beatles Ensemble performing “Mother Nature’s Son” and singer-guitarist Phil Angotti performing “Paperback Writer” with singer-guitarist Jay Goeppner from the Instant Karma John Lennon Tribute band.

The Beatles Ensemble, Angotti, and Goeppner will be on hand again this year for the Beatles Celebration, along with other musical guests like Uke Nation with Lanialoha Lee; The Janes; St. Clemens Kids; Brown Lazer; and The Astronomer. Steve Dawson, who’s a member of Dolly Varden and has released solo efforts, will be playing with Guitar 4ever. Beatles parody performer Danny Donuts, a Fest For Beatles Fans regular, will also participate, as will Number Nine, Sandlewood Sitar Music Ensemble, and FlatTop. Veteran musician Eric Howell, who released his Greatest Hitch CD, and recently wrote a Chicago Blackhawks/Rolling Stones mash-up that was popular on XRT, is also on the bill.

The Beatles Celebration starts at 8:00 PM at The Old Town School of Folk Music, which is located at 4544 N. Lincoln Avenue in Chicago. Tickets are $15 for the general public, $11 for seniors and children. All of the musical guests will be playing Beatles songs, which is the perfect way to pay tribute to a guy who loved the band.

Come Together

Photo of Carlos Hernandez Gomez from Fest For Beatles Fans Facebook page.

I can’t claim to have known Carlos Hernandez Gomez, but those who did paint quite an affectionate portrait of him. Gomez, a political reporter for WBEZ radio as well as for the local television station CLTV in Chicago, passed away from cancer at age 36 this past January. Chicago Sun-Times columnist Carol Marin called him, “streetwise and smart, punky yet sweet.”

He also made numerous friends among musicians in the city, and loved hanging out at Fest For Beatles Fans when it came to the Hyatt Regency in Rosemont each August. A post on the Facebook page for Fest For Beatles Fans notes that he was one of the people who sang “under the stairs.” This is an area in the hotel’s lobby where anyone at The Fest can join in on the communal spirit of singing Beatle songs. Terri Hemmert, the host of the weekly Breakfast With The Beatles show on WXRT, and a longtime emcee at The Fest, recalled Gomez as a friend, in a recent blog post on the station’s website.

On Thursday, April 8th, there will be a special Concert For Carlos, with a multi-media slide show, live bands, and an auction featuring donations from Pete Townshend, Brian Wilson, Ray Davies, and other well-known musicians. Performers will include The Gear; Eric Howell; The Beatle Brothers; Phil Angotti; and special guest Brad Elvis. The show starts at 7PM.

It will take place at Fitzgerald’s Night Club, at 6615 Roosevelt Road, in Berwyn. Tickets are $25 in advance, $30 at the door. All proceeds go to Living Water International Haiti, a charity Gomez was actively involved with up until his death. There is also an online auction. For more information, see fitzgeraldsnightclub.com and www.water.cc/carlos

Fest For Beatles Fans Returns To Rosemont

Fest For Beatles Fans has been making its annual visits to the Chicago area since 1977 and earlier this year was the inspiration for the original play Mop Top Festival at the Factory Theatre. The three-day celebration will bring celebrities, tons of merchandise, live music, and art to the Hyatt Regency O’Hara in suburban Rosemont August 14-16. Guests include Ronnie Spector, a Rock ‘N’ Roll Hall of Fame singer whose recordings with The Ronettes delighted The Beatles. Hudson Brothers Mark and Brett, who continue to find success as musicians and producers (particularly Mark who produced Ringo Starr) will also be on hand, along with former Wings drummer Steve Holley, and guitarist Earl Slick, who played on John and Yoko’s Double Fantasy album. Greg Hawkes from The Cars will play ukulele on songs from his new CD, The Beatles Uke.

Long-time master of ceremonies Terri Hemmert, whose Breakfast With The Beatles show airs on WXRT every Sunday morning, comes across as an avid fan as well as a skilled interviewer in her on-stage sessions with each guest. British comedian Martin Lewis is the quick-witted moderator of Musician’s Forum, a fun and informative free-form conversation and jam session. This year’s Forum will involve Holley, the Hudsons, Hawkes, and Slick. Liverpool, a Beatles cover band that dispenses with the usual theatrics of the genre but still sounds a lot like The Fab Four will perform each night and back Greg Hawkes on a couple of Cars songs. Steve Holley will be filling in on drums.

The Chicago Fest For Beatles Fans is an unabashed love-in for devoted followers as they don their favorite t-shirts; meet face-to-face with people who have worked closely with John, Paul, George, and Ringo; join sing-alongs; participate in trivia contests; and vote for their favorites in a Beatles sound-alike competition. Tickets are $28 for Friday, $42 for Saturday or Sunday, amd $88 for the entire weekend.